As an entrepreneur or business owner, one of the most important things you can do is build a strong team of employees. The people you hire will directly impact your company’s success, so it’s crucial that you take the time to find the right fit. However, this can be much harder because of the current skills shortage.
The United States’ skills shortage is affecting various industries, and it’s happening for a few reasons. First, Boomers are now retiring at a rapid rate. Next, technological advances have made some jobs obsolete while creating new ones requiring different skill sets. This has resulted in a skills gap where there are more job openings than there are people to fill them.
To combat this issue, you must be strategic about your hiring process. Here are five ways to ensure you’re hiring the right people:
Define Skills and Qualities
Before you start your search, take some time to think about what skills and qualities your ideal candidate should possess. For example, do they need to be knowledgeable in a particular area? Do they need to be good at problem-solving? What about their personality—are you looking for someone outgoing or introverted? Once you have a clear idea of what you’re looking for, you’ll be able to narrow down your candidates more efficiently.
Write a Detailed Job Description
A well-written job description will attract candidates who are qualified and interested in the position. Be sure to include a list of expectations, duties, responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications. If you can, try to paint a picture of a typical day in the role. This will give candidates a better sense of whether or not the job is right for them. After that, it’s time to choose a platform where you can put your job description. Here are some great places you can do your job posting.
Online Job Boards
If you want somewhere that’s guaranteed to have a lot of eyes on it, post your job opening on an online job board. Indeed, Glassdoor and LinkedIn are all great options.
Social Media
Social media is another excellent way to reach many people with your job posting. Twitter, in particular, can be very effective for this. Just be sure to use relevant hashtags, so your tweet reaches the right audience.
Your Website
You can post your opening on your company website if you want to avoid job boards. This is a great way to reach people who are already interested in your brand. Plus, it’s completely free!
Check References
When you’ve narrowed your list of candidates down to a few finalists, check their references—and don’t forget to do a quick Google search, too. A simple Google search can turn up valuable information about a candidate that their references may not mention, such as red flags from previous employers or articles they’ve written that could give you insights into their work ethic and values.
Additionally, don’t forget to check their social media. Their profile can have a lot of information to help you decide if they are the right candidate for the job.
Give Training
Training is crucial if you want to hire employees who have specific skills you need in your company. If you can’t find the right people, you can start making them in your company. Here is some training you should give new hires.
Skills Improvement
Specific jobs require mastery over some skill. Take driving, for example, many people can do it, but only a handful can drive trucks or buses. That’s why drivers in your company should be required to do a basic driver improvement class. This skills improvement class can improve your company driver’s skills and habits, making them a more valuable employees. This is great if you already hire a knowledgeable driver for your company.
Product Knowledge
If you want your employees to be able to sell your products or services, they need to know everything about them. You can give them the product knowledge they need by holding training sessions regularly. This way, they’ll always be up-to-date on the latest changes and updates.
Conduct Multiple Interviews
Once you’ve gone through all the above steps, it’s time for the final stage: interviews! When interviewing candidates, ask tough questions that test their skills and knowledge. If possible, conduct multiple rounds of interviews with each candidate so that you can get a more well-rounded sense of who they are and how they would perform in the role.
Taking the time to find the right employees is crucial for any business; after all, your team directly impacts your company’s success. By following these five tips, you can be confident that you’re hiring the best people for the job.
